Banana-case



(No Model.)

J. T. GORNFORTH.

BANANA CASE.

No 484,355. Patented 001. 11, 1892.

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' v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH T. CORNFORTH, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

BANANA-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,355, dated October 11, 1892. Application filed April 22, 1892- Serial No. 4301176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, J OSEPH T. CORNFORTH, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

- siding at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banana- Oases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

- My invention relates to improvements in banana-cases; and the object of the'improvement is to provide a receptacle of the class stated which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, reliable, durable, and efficient in use.

In the shipment of bananas much difficulty has been heretofore experienced by reason of inefficient veneer cases, which I have found impracticable for use in the transportation of this class of fruit. In the construction of this old style of case the veneer slab is made wet and then bent around the circular heads and nailed thereto, forming a cylindrical case.

The wettin g of the veneer is necessary in order to render it sufficiently flexible to bend around the heads without splitting. Bananas shipped in this wet case are easily frozen in winter, while they are injured in warm weather by the dampness and moisture arising from the drying out of the wet veneer by which they are surrounded. Again, these veneer cases are expensive, since a special machine is necessary in their construction. They are also impracticable by reason of the fact that the contents of the cases cannot be inspected without destroying the case, while it is often necessary and always advantageous to open the case in order that the original consignee, being a wholesale dealer, may determine whether the fruit is in condition for further shipment, and, if so, to what distance it may be safely transported, and,finally, the veneer case is worthless, since the express companies have refused to become responsible for the freezing of the fruit While in their charge if shipped in these receptacles.

Hence the object of my present invention is to overcome the defects of the Veneer case and provide a practicable receptacle for this fruit during shipment and in which it maybe safely transported, or at least without extraordinary hazard.

To this end the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, and will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of the case. Fig. 2 is a top view. Figs. 3 and4= are cross-sections, and Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views partly broken away to show the lining.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism, let the numeral 5 designate the heads or ends and 6 6, &c., the slats composing a polygonal box, receptacle, or case provided with a lining 7 of some flexible material, preferably paper. The slats are secured to the heads of the box in any suitable manner, as by the use of nails or screws, and are so placed that there shall be spaces or interstices 8 between the longitudinal edges for ventilation purposes. The width of these spaces 8 may be varied as desired or as circumstances may require. For winter use it may by desirable to place these slats as close together as can be conveniently done, while for summer use the case may be left more open, as better ventilation will be needed during this season of the year.

The lining 7 for each case is preferably composed of an integral sheet of tough paper, which when the case is designed for winter use engages the heads beneath the extremities of the slats and is secured in place by the nails or screws employed in fastening the slats. This style of case is shown'in Fig. 6. However, for summer use it is preferable that the lining should be loose at the ends, as shown in Fig. 6, to make provision for adequate ventilation. When ready for shipment, the case should be surrounded in its center and between its heads bya stout cord, rope, or strap, whereby its central circumference may be contracted, the cord acting as a brace and preventing the extremities of the slats from becoming loose or displaced during shipment from the outward pressure of the contents of the case, thus giving the same an additional element of safety against destruction and making it perfectly secure under all ordinary circumstances.

For convenience in opening the package and for the purpose of making the box a rebeing attached to one of the adjoining slats and forming a hinge.

The slats forming the door, as it were, of the case maybe provided with one or more connecting strings or wires, as may be desired. If only one is employed, it may be centrally located and form a continuation of the central binding cord or rope heretofore mentioned. In this case the cord should be secured to one of the extreme stationary staves or slats, leaving an end 10 projecting beyond the knot, as shown in Fig. 3. The cord is then preferably carried around the case in such a manner as to engage the balance of the stationary slats on the outside, being then secured by a suitable knot to the opposite extreme stationary stave, or the one to which the door is hinged. From this point the binding or connecting cord or wire is preferably double and carried on both sides of each slat 6 comprising the door, the cords being twisted or knotted between the slats, as shown at 10, and finally knotted at the slat 6 farthest from the hinge, leaving a projecting extremity 10. The extremities 10 and 10 are then tied together, as shown at 15 in Fig.

2, when the package is complete after securing the extremities of the door-slats by screws or nails.

To inspect or remove the contents of the case, it is only necessary to open this door, which is of sufficient area to give free access for either purpose.

Attention is called to the fact that this invention is specially designed for use in shipping bananas in the bunch, each case being intended to hold a single bunch of the fruit while clinging to the stem upon which it grew. In packing thesebiinches in the cases the stem is so cut that its extremities engage the heads of the case, whereby the stem forms a central longitudinal brace therefor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is.

1. A case adapted to hold a bunch of bananas and consisting of two rigid polygonal heads to be engaged by the extremities of the stem, staves secured to the heads by nails or screws, and a loose flexible lining for the body of the case, said lining being made fast to the 6 5 heads beneath the slat extremities, substantially as described.

2. A banana-case composed of two rigid polygonal heads, slats secured thereto by nails JOSEPH T. CORNFORTH.

Witnesses:

WM. MoOoNNELL, ZITELLA EBERT. 

